Good news Montreal Canadiens fans, this team can’t bet any worse in the NHL Eastern Conference. The Habs found themselves dead last in the Conference this morning, but could bounce back into 14th with a win over the Winnipeg Jets.
This is the fourth and final meeting between the two clubs, with Montreal holding a 2-1 series lead. In their last meeting, Lars Eller had a career night, potting four goals, and adding an assist, in a 7-3 win at the Bell Centre.
The Jets are crawling at a playoff spot, sitting four points back of eighth place, heading into this afternoon. If they want a playoff berth, their offense will need to pick up steam, especially on the road where they are 9-15-4.
Winnipeg is 4-5-1 in their last ten, and have two or less goals in nine of their last 11 games. Their power play has also struggled with just three goals in their last 31 opportunities.
But if there’s a place to bag a road win theses days, the Bell Centre is the place. The Canadiens are one of two clubs with a below .500 record at home. The even worse Columbus Blue Jackets are the other.
Dustin Byfuglien returned to the Jets Thursday, following a 16-game absence.
Ondrej Pavelec gets the call in goal for the Jets. Carey Price will be between the pipes for Montreal.
Raphael Diaz is a healthy scratch for the Habs.
The Canadiens are 11-8-1 on Superbowl Sunday, but have lost the last five straight games.
MONTREAL CANADIENS PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards
Erik Cole – David Desharnais – Max Pacioretty
Mathieu Darche – Lars Eller – Andrei Kostitsyn
Rene Bourque – Tomas Plekanec – Scott Gomez
Aaron Palushaj – Louis Leblanc – Yannick Weber
Defense Pairings
Goalies
Carey Price – Peter Budaj
WINNIPEG JETS PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards
Andrew Ladd – Bryan Little – Blake Wheeler
Kyle Wellwood – Nik Antropov – Eric Fehr
Tanner Glass – Jim Slater – Chris Thorburn
Alexander Burmistrov – Aaron Gagnon – Antti Miettinen
Defense Pairings
Dustin Byfuglien – Tobias Enstrom
Goalies
Ondrej Pavelec – Chris Mason
SBN Coverage of the Jets at Arctic Ice Hockey
Habs Superbowl Picks
